Portable band saw sharpener

Abstract

The portable band saw sharpener includes a frame for receiving a saw blade that is to be sharpened. A hand-operated motor is pivotally mounted to the frame for driving a grinding wheel, which engages the teeth of the saw blade. A hand-operated structure releasably holds the saw blade in place during the sharpening of the saw teeth, and the motor is guided along a path matching the contour of the saw blade teeth by a cam and an interchangeable cam track, which may be adjusted for saws of various contours and dimensions. The portable band saw sharpener is adjustable, hand-operated and portable.

1. A portable band saw sharpener, comprising:
 a frame for receiving a saw blade, said frame having first and second plates secured to one another, said first and second plates having a gap formed therebetween for removably receiving said saw blade; 
 a motor pivotally mounted to said frame; 
 a grinding disc rotationally mounted to a drive axle of said motor, said motor driving said grinding disc, said grinding disc engaging teeth of said saw blade for selective sharpening of said teeth; 
 a cam rotatably mounted to said motor; 
 a cam guide mounted on said first plate of said frame, said cam guide having a guide track formed therein, said cam releasably engaging said guide track for guiding said grinding disc along a contour of one of said teeth of said saw blade; and 
 locking means for releasably engaging a trough formed between adjacent ones of said teeth of said saw blade, whereby, during sharpening, a user pivots said motor such that said grinding disc engages one of said teeth of said saw blade and actuates said locking means to engage said trough, said locking means being disengaged and said motor being pivoted away from said saw blade when the saw blade is advanced in said frame to sharpen another one of said teeth. 
 
   
   
     2. The portable band saw sharpener as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a first pivotal mounting rod, said motor being pivotally mounted to said pivotal mounting rod. 
   
   
     3. The portable band saw sharpener as recited in  claim 2 , further comprising a second pivotal mounting rod having first and second opposed ends, said first end of said second pivotal mounting rod being pivotally mounted to said frame, said second end of said second pivotal mounting rod being pivotally joined to said first pivotal mounting rod. 
   
   
     4. The portable band saw sharpener as recited in  claim 3 , wherein said first and second pivotal mounting rods are provided with spring means for spring-biasing said rods with respect to one another. 
   
   
     5. The portable band saw sharpener as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a mounting track formed on said frame, said mounting track releasably and removably receiving said cam guide. 
   
   
     6. The portable band saw sharpener as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a cam mount secured to, and projecting downwardly from, said motor, said cam being rotatably mounted on said cam mount. 
   
   
     7. The portable band saw sharpener as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising blade height adjustment means for securing a bottom end of said saw blade within said frame, said blade height adjustment means being adjustable to accommodate saw blades having varying heights. 
   
   
     8. The portable band saw sharpener as recited in  claim 7 , wherein said blade height adjustment means includes a pair of threaded nuts mounted to opposing longitudinal ends of said frame. 
   
   
     9. The portable band saw sharpener as recited in  claim 8 , wherein said blade height adjustment means includes a pair of threaded screws for engaging said pair of threaded nuts. 
   
   
     10. The portable band saw sharpener as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said locking means includes a hook member for releasably engaging said trough. 
   
   
     11. The portable band saw sharpener as recited in  claim 10 , further comprising a pivotal bar having first and second opposed ends, said first end being pivotally joined to said frame, said second end being pivotally joined to said hook member. 
   
   
     12. The portable band saw sharpener as recited in  claim 11 , further including spring biasing means, wherein said pivotal bar is spring biased with respect to said frame. 
   
   
     13. The portable band saw sharpener as recited in  claim 12 , further comprising an actuator member secured to said pivotal bar for actuation by the user.